Kite



March 19, 1957 w, GREEN 2,785,870

Filed Oct. 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wilbur Green INVENTOR.

Y W Mzz-q March 19, 1957 w. GREEN 2,785,870

KITE

Filed on. 27, 1953' a Shets-Sheet 2 Wilbur Green 1N VEN TOR.

Y WW Ew United States Patent KITE Wilbur Green, Houston, Tex. Application October 27, 1953, Serial No. 388,643 '1 Claims. (Cl. 244-153 This invention relates generally to kites and pertains more particularly to animproved', tall-less form thereof. A primary object of this. invention is to provide an improved form ofkite which embodies a main body portion and a steadying and guiding keel, obviating the nece'ssity of providing a tail.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved kite construction which includes the provision of Figure 1 is a perspective'view of a kite constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side ,elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 1; v

Figure 4 is a partial perspective'view showing the attaching bracket or strap for securing the kite string to the kite;

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view showing the manner of connecting the cross-stick to the kite;

'Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of kite construction;

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the manner of flexibly interconnecting certain of the stick members;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective .view showing one of the cross stick attaching brackets;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a still further modified form of the invention; c

Figure 10 is a plan view of a further, modification;

Figure 11 is a planview of another modification;

Figure 12 is still another plan view of a further modi fication;

Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the disposition and manner of interconnection between varions of the stick members in the forms of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 11;

Figure 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the kite shown in Figure 10; and

Figure 15 is a plan view of a further modification of this invention.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a polygonal sheet of thin material which constitutes the main body portion of the kite and to which a center stick 12 is rigidly atfixed, as by gluing or the like, the center stick extending between the top and bottom apices of the sheet 10 in the manner shown such as to subdivide the same into two mirror image sections. The main stick is provided with a. generally U-shaped strap member 14 through which a cross-stick 16 passes to be afiixed longitudinally of the main stem 12, the opposite ends of this cross-stick being slottedas at 18 to detachably receive a band of resilient material 20 which is looped through a generally U-shaped strap member 22 provided at the opposite side apices of the sheet 10. This construction is seen most clearly in Figure 5.

Aflixed to the side of the sheet 10 opposite the main stick 12 is a keel member24 which may preferably take the form of a triangle with its long side secured to the sheet 10 as by gluing or the like coextensive with the securement between the sheet 10 and the main stick 12. The free apex of this keel member is provided with a strap member 26 having leg portions 28 and 30, respectively, secured at opposite sides of the keel and with the tubular intermediate portion 32 of this strap provided with an elongated flexible collar or bushing 34 through which the lead of guide string 36 is attached, as will be manifest.

In this form of the kite, it will be seen that when the cross-stick 16 is removed by detaching its opposite ends and removing the stick from the strap 14, the cross-stick may be placed next to the main stick 12 and the whole assembly rolled up in collapsed form to provide a neat and convenient package for shipment prior to use.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, it will be seen that here the main body portion 36 is formed with a flexible sheet of material and it is to be noted that this form of the invention is also provided with a keel member similar to the form of the invention shown in Figure l, and that the .form of the invention shown in Figure 6 also embodies a main stick member 38 extending longitudinally of and gluing or the like.

in generally convergent relationship at opposite sides of the center stick 38. Also provided in convergent relation to each one of the wing sticks 44 and 46 are the intermediate stick members 48 and 50, all of the sticks thus far mentioned being secured to the sheet 36 as by erally by the reference character 54 which takes the form of a strip of material of U-shaped cross-section and rigidly aflixed at opposite sides to the wing sticks in straddling relation thereto such as to provide a pocket 56 within.

which the opposite ends of the cross-stick member 58 are removably received. Thus, it will be seen that removal of the cross-stick 58 will permit the intermediate and wing sticks to be folded upon each other, and the entire assembly rolled up to provide a neat and convenient package.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 15, respectively, it will be seen that these forms embody a sheet of material 60 and 62, respectively, configurated in a desired manner and provided with a longitudinal main stick member 64 and 66, respectively, and with wing stick members 68 and 70 secured at opposite side edges of the sheet. The wing sticks are flexibly interconnected by the tube members 52 previously described, and each wing stick is pro vided with one of the brackets 54 for removably receiving the opposite ends of the cross-stick members 72 and 74.

Each wing stick and its correspond- Referring now more particularly to Figure 10 wherein V a still further modific'atioii is shown, it be'se'en that the main body portion or sheet of the kite is so conrfigurated as to provide upper and lower wing, sections 76 and 78 ea'chfprfovided with-wingstickmembers,80' an'd'SZf respectively, the upper of which are fieXiblyconheeted'bv the tubes 52 to the upper ends;ofthefintrmediate stick members 84 which are disposedonopposite sides'offth'e. main stickmemb'er'86 in'the mannershown. Thelofwr; wing sticks 82 are flexibly secured to intennediate pon tions'of the intermediate sticks 84fthr'0ugh the tube menibers 88, these tube members being rigidly affixed to theintermediate sticks 84 through the intermediary ofstrap; elements 90 wrapped abolit the'latte'r. This construction is shown m'ost'clearly in Figure 14 This formpf the invention alsoembodies upper and". lower cross-stick members 92 an'd94 associatedwiththe. previously described bracket-f54fon thewingstick;

In the form offthe inventidnshown' in Figure 11, the

. wing sticks 96 are flexibly interconnected with theintel-mediate sticks 98 in the" manner shown and due to. the'large extent of wing area-in thisrform, an additional rigidifying stick 100' issecured-tofieach Wing section and I is disposed on the sheet generally .to bisect. the angle. presented betweenthe Wing and intermediate stick .mem-. has with theupper end of the additional rigidifying. stick, being provided'closely, adjacent the flexible interconnecte ing tube 52 between the wingand intermediate sticks.96 and 98, as shown most-clearly in Figure, 13.

In Figure 12, the kite is-constructed generall'y along the lines of'the form shown in-Figure-6; but with the.

' sheet member 102 ofslightljdificrent configuration, the

Wing"sticks 104 and intermediate sticks. 106 being similar to'correspondingeleinents in the form shownin Figure 6.

From the foregoing, the construction ,andloperation 3 of th e device will. be readily understood andfurther. -ex. planation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those, skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described; and accordingly, all suitable modificationsand equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the-scope of the ap" pended claims. 7

What is claimed as new is as follows: V

l; A collapsible, tailless kite comprising a generally= polygonal sheet of material, a center-stick secured to; said sheet an'd rigidifying thesame-in a longitudinal din I rectio'n, wing sticks secured". to forwardly converging, edgesof said'sheet, U-shaped brackets secured to and=cX-. tending rearwardly of intermediate portions of -saidawing sticks in outwardly converging, relationship JIICIEiOtO. define inwardly directed taperedpockets, .a cross-stickv having its, ends,detachabl reccivedpin said pockets to rigidity the sheet in a transverse direction. 1

2. A collapsibl tailless kite' comprising a generally; polygonal sheet of material, a center .sticksecured to said sheet and rigidifying. the same a longitudinalg-di-:- I rection,,wing-sticks-securcdtoforwardly converging edges v of said sheet, U-shaped brackets secured 1 toand extend? ing rearwardly of intermediate portions of said wing sticks in outwardly converging relationship thereto to define inwardly directed tapered pockets, a cross-stick having its ends detachably received in said pockets to rigidity the sheet in a transverse direction, and a keel sheet secured to the first named sheet oppositely of said center stick and coextensive therewith.

3. The combination ofclaini 1} wherein the said wing sticks are interconnected bysawflexible tube member in which the inner adjacent ends of said wing sticks are received. K

4. The combination of .-claim--2,rwherein-the said wing sticks are interconnected by a flexible tube member in which the inner-adjacent: ends oft said wing sticks are received.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein intermediate sticks are secured to said sheet, ,said intermediate sticks extending in a generally longitudinal directiomagboth sid'esof 1' said center stick, .the forward ends; of t said-in termediate sticks'fbeing .connectedtothe.respectiveinner ends of said Wing sticks by flexibletube-membersereceiv ingjthe ends of said sticks}.

6; Thecombination of claim 1; wliereinflintermediate sticks are securedtosaid sheet, said:in'tcrmediate sticks extendingjin. a generallylongitudinal direction inzcons, verging relation at both sides of said center stick,-the.for+;

ward. ends. of said'intermediatelsticks .being. connected-to n the respective inner ends.of;sa.id:wing..-sticks byflexible tubejmembers teceivingiheendsi of said sticks.-

,7. IX-collapsible,,tailless kite .comprisinga sheets of. materialfformeditodefine a longitudinalnbodyportionand; laterally extending tapered wingsportions, .a center. stick extendingalong. the. longitudinallcenter liiie -of said -body.s

portionand. securedthereto,-..interrnediate sticks secured to' said sheet along the juncture.between"said .-body:pors tionand. said tapered winglportion,-..wing. stick secured toth'e forward edges of said'tapered'wing portions; flexie ble, U-shapedbracketssecuredto and extendingqearwardly' of said wing sticksintermediate theends; thereof, said brackets being angled with.respecttosaidFwingsticks to define taperedipockets opening inwardlytoward saidbody portion, a cross-stick extending transversely acrosssaid. body portion and said center and intermcdiatesticlgs V and'hav'ingits ends receivedin'said taperedpockets defined by said brackets,1.flexible tube members receiving the forward ends of said intermediate sticks andzfthe-z-:. inner ends of saidwingsticks, and-a: keelsheet secured tojtheundts'idefof said body': portion-alongithe'center line thereof.

RefereucesCite'd in thefil of .patent t UNITED ATES. PATENTS 

